With the introduction of three new monitors, the hardware developer adds a new branch to the Z family tree.

By Cyrena Respini-Irwin

HP added an entry-level model to its Z workstation family this week, and simultaneously announced three Z displays. The company introduced its first Z workstations in 2009, and has been regularly expanding and updating the line ever since. This is the first time, however, that displays have been made part of the Z offerings.

The HP Z22i, Z23i, and Z24i LED displays are optimized for use with HP Z workstations, and marketed toward engineers, architects, designers, and photographers. Built with in-plane switching (IPS) Generation 2 panels, these models use approximately 26% less power than HP's first-generation IPS technology products, said Larry Mahoney, worldwide product manager of HP's Displays business unit.

The displays also provide color fidelity across wider viewing angles than twisted nematic (TN) displays do — an important feature for those viewing images from the side. "TN degrades depending on the angle," said Mahoney. The IPS Generation 2, in contrast, provides 178 degrees of clear viewing.

The HP Z22i and Z23i provide 95% coverage of the sRGB color space; the HP Z24i boosts that number to 99%. HP's Black Stretch technology, controlled through an onscreen display, enhances the visibility of details in dark regions of the image. Read more»

Transition from 2D to 3D Design Hasn't Been a Clean Break for Most, Study Finds

Report on 3D collaboration and interoperability, available free, finds most downstream departments still rely heavily on 2D.

By Chad Jackson

In today's product-development environments, 3D models play an important role in design as well as the overall development process — there's little doubt about that. But how far have we really come in the adoption and use of 3D data for product development? In a recent study, I set out to answer that question, examining design data interoperability, model-based enterprise initiatives, and the use of 3D models off the critical path. My findings, based on 800 survey responses, are outlined in the 2013 3D Collaboration and Interoperability Report, now available to the public. Here's a peek at some highlights of the report.

Data Interoperability Undermines Design Productivity

Want to know a bottom-line statistic about design data interoperability?

Fully 49% of the respondents to the survey stated they spent more than four hours a week fixing design data — that's at least two days lost every month. That time is spent in simply getting a closed volume, ensuring the 3D model accurately reflects the intent of the original design, and modifying the geometry to represent revisions that the engineer wants to make. Note that none of these activities is actual design work; they add no value to the project. Read more»

At the SIGGRAPH International Conference and Exhibition on Computer Graphics in Anaheim, California, NVIDIA this week unveiled what it is calling a new flagship GPU (graphics processing unit) for visual computing. The NVIDIA Quadro K6000 features the world's largest and fastest graphics memory to date, according to the company, and will dramatically improve real-time photorealistic visualization, analysis, and animation.

Measuring 4.4" x 10.5", the NVIDIA Quadro K6000 is said to feature the world's largest and fastest graphics memory.

Using the NVIDIA Quadro K6000, organizations such as Pixar and Nissan to tackle projects of unprecedented size and scope, NVIDIA reported. Product designers can reduce model-preparation time in advance of design reviews and support faster photorealistic visualization of entire models. Architects will benefit from improved high-end visualization of complex building models.

Andrew Cresci, general manager for Manufacturing Industries at NVIDIA, told Cadalyst, "Doing photorealistic visualization in real time is such a big deal; there's a huge pent-up demand for it. The K6000 is a breath of fresh air for those at the high end." Read more»

3D Scanning for CAD
July 30, 2013
11 a.m. PT
In this webinar from NextEngine, attendees can learn how to create usable models for CAD programs such as SolidWorks, Creo, and Inventor. This webinar will demonstrate the workflow of scanning and converting mesh scan data into editable CAD solids using RapidWorks software. Read more »

CIMdata PLM Certificate Program — Andover
September 16–20, 2013
Andover, Massachusetts
This assessment-based project lifecycle management (PLM) certificate program includes a personalized classroom experience, individual and team-based exercises, and individual evaluations of achievement. Upon successful completion of the program, each participant will receive a CIMdata PLM Certificate and become a member of CIMdata's global PLM Leadership community. Read more »

For a complete list of CAD meetings, conferences, training sessions, and more, check out our calendar of events on Cadalyst.com. Are you hosting an event that you would like to include in our calendar? Submit details at least two weeks in advance to news@cadalyst.com.

About the Author: Cadalyst Staff

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